Russia 1985–1999: TraumaZone: Difference between revisions

*Russia 1985–1999: TraumaZone*
Russia 1985–1999: TraumaZone
	Title card from episode 1
Also known as	Russia 1985–1999: TraumaZone: What It Felt Like to Live Through The Collapse of Communism and Democracy
Genre	Documentary
Created by	Adam Curtis
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	7
Production
Executive producer	Rose Garnett
Producer	Sandra Gorel
Running time	60 minutes
Production company	BBC Film
Original release
Network	BBC iPlayer
Release	13 October 2022

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Russia 1985–1999: TraumaZone (subtitled in promotional media as What It Felt Like to Live Through The Collapse of Communism and Democracy) is a seven-part BBC documentary television series created by Adam Curtis. It was released on BBC iPlayer on 13 October 2022.

Background

Previously unused archival footage of the Soviet Union and Russia from the BBC's Moscow bureau was unearthed and digitised by a BBC employee, Phil Goodwin.^[1] Adam Curtis appeared to be the only person within the BBC interested in using the footage.^[2] In a departure from his usual style, Curtis opted not to use voiceovers or non-diegetic music, with the only commentary made via on-screen captions.^[3]^[2] Curtis, in a piece in The Guardian, explained this choice was because the footage was "so strong that I didn’t want to intrude pointlessly, but rather let viewers simply experience what was happening".^[4] In an interview with Meduza, Curtis stated that Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace served as an inspiration for him as "it appeals to my collage mind".^[1]

Premise

Using stock footage shot by the BBC, the series chronicles the collapse of the Soviet Union, the rise of capitalist Russia and its oligarchs, and the effects of this on Russian people of all levels of society, leading to the rise to power of Vladimir Putin.

Episodes

Episodes of *Russia 1985–1999: TraumaZone*
No.	Title	Duration
1	"Part One: 1985–1989"	60 min
Perestroika aspires to save communism, but many don't believe in anything anymore. Includes footage from the AvtoVAZ factory in Tolyatti, the funeral of Kim Philby, Soviet soldiers returning from the invasion and war in Afghanistan and the April 9 tragedy anti-Soviet demonstrations in Tbilisi.
2	"Part Two: 1989–1991"	60 min
Moscow and other places suffer shortages of potatoes and other foodstuffs. Among failing attempts by the government to fix this, the first McDonald's opens in Moscow.
3	"Part Three: 1991"	60 min
Soviet hardliners attempt a coup, but fail. Russian oligarchs publish a manifest with ideas, as ideology gives way to money. Boris Yeltsin becomes the President of Russia.
4	"Part Four: 1992–1994"	60 min
Russia is thrust into a state of chaotic dreams, where nothing is stable. Some dream of restoring former imperial glory. Many cannot afford food.
5	"Part Five: 1993–1996"	60 min
Russian society is divided and millions live below the poverty line. Many live underground or in the woods. Yeltsin attacks the parliament with tanks, while arguing that it's done to save democracy.
6	"Part Six: 1994–1998"	60 min
Yeltsin believes a war in Chechnya will save him. Meanwhile, the oligarchs seize control over almost everything. Includes footage of the Battle of Grozny, the electoral campaign of Liberal Democratic Party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky, and the trial of gangster Sergei Shashurin in Kazan.
7	"Part Seven: 1995–1999"	60 min
Western banks leave Russia. Oligarchs, after seizing power, look for a new president who would become their puppet, choosing Vladimir Putin. Russians rebel against what they call "the curse of democracy".

Reception

The Guardian gave the series five stars, calling it "ingenious, essential viewing".^[5] Writing for the Financial Times, Dan Einav said "Russia 1985–1999 TraumaZone is unmistakably an Adam Curtis documentary. And an exceptional one at that."^[6]

The series won the award in the best specialist factual category at the 2023 British Academy Television Awards.^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b "«Когда империя разваливается, не стой слишком близко» Одна из самых ярких (и болезненных) документальных работ 2022 года — сериал TraumaZone о перестройке. Мы поговорили с его автором Адамом Кертисом". Meduza (in Russian). 5 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
^ ^a ^b Gray, John (18 October 2022). "Adam Curtis's magic lantern through Russia". New Statesman. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
^ Whyman, Tom (14 October 2022). "Adam Curtis's 'TraumaZone' Needs More Adam Curtis". artreview.com. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
^ Curtis, Adam (12 October 2022). "'They are stealing Russia': Adam Curtis on how hyper-capitalism wrecked a nation – and why Liz Truss must take heed". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
^ Jeffries, Stuart (13 October 2022). "Russia 1985–1999: TraumaZone review – ingenious, essential viewing from Adam Curtis". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
^ Einav, Dan (10 October 2022). "Russia 1985–1999 TraumaZone — Adam Curtis's exceptional collage of conflict and collapse". Financial Times. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
^ "Bafta TV awards 2023: the full list of winners". The Guardian. 14 May 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 May 2023.

External links

[Meduza2023-1] "«Когда империя разваливается, не стой слишком близко» Одна из самых ярких (и болезненных) документальных работ 2022 года — сериал TraumaZone о перестройке. Мы поговорили с его автором Адамом Кертисом". Meduza (in Russian). 5 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.

[:0-2] Gray, John (18 October 2022). "Adam Curtis's magic lantern through Russia". New Statesman. Retrieved 19 October 2022.

[3] Whyman, Tom (14 October 2022). "Adam Curtis's 'TraumaZone' Needs More Adam Curtis". artreview.com. Retrieved 19 October 2022.

[4] Curtis, Adam (12 October 2022). "'They are stealing Russia': Adam Curtis on how hyper-capitalism wrecked a nation – and why Liz Truss must take heed". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 October 2022.

[5] Jeffries, Stuart (13 October 2022). "Russia 1985–1999: TraumaZone review – ingenious, essential viewing from Adam Curtis". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 October 2022.

[6] Einav, Dan (10 October 2022). "Russia 1985–1999 TraumaZone — Adam Curtis's exceptional collage of conflict and collapse". Financial Times. Retrieved 19 October 2022.

[7] "Bafta TV awards 2023: the full list of winners". The Guardian. 14 May 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 May 2023.

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@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 {{Use British English|date=October 2022}}
 {{Infobox television
-| alt_name             = Russia 1985–1999: TraumaZone: What It Felt Like to Live Through The Collapse of Communism and Democracy
+| alt_name             = ''Russia 1985–1999: TraumaZone: What It Felt Like to Live Through The Collapse of Communism and Democracy''
 | image                = Russia 1985-1999 TraumaZone title card screenshot.jpg
 | image_size           =
@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 | network              = [[BBC iPlayer]]
 | first_aired          = {{start date|2022|10|13|df=y}}
-| preceded_by          = ''[[Can't Get You Out of My Head (TV series)]]'' (2021)
 }}
@@ Line 26: / Line 25: @@
 == Background ==
-Previously unutilised archival footage of the [[Soviet Union]] and [[Russia]] from the [[BBC|BBC's]] Moscow bureau was unearthed and digitised by a BBC employee. Adam Curtis appeared to be the only person within the BBC interested in using the footage.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Gray |first=John |date=2022-10-18 |title=Adam Curtis's magic lantern through Russia |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/international-politics/ideas-international-politics/2022/10/adam-curtis-traumazone-review-magic-lantern |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=New Statesman |language=en-US}}</ref> In a departure from his usual style, Curtis opted not to use voiceovers or [[Non diegetic sound|non-diegetic music]], with the only commentary made via on-screen captions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whyman |first=Tom |date=14 October 2022 |title=Adam Curtis's 'TraumaZone' Needs More Adam Curtis |url=https://artreview.com/adam-curtis-traumazone-needs-more-adam-curtis/ |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=artreview.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Curtis, in a piece in ''[[The Guardian]]'', explained this choice was because the footage was "so strong that I didn’t want to intrude pointlessly, but rather let viewers simply experience what was happening".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Curtis |first=Adam |date=2022-10-12 |title='They are stealing Russia': Adam Curtis on how hyper-capitalism wrecked a nation – and why Liz Truss must take heed |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/oct/12/russia-adam-curtis-extreme-capitalism-liz-truss-traumazone |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref>
+Previously unused archival footage of the [[Soviet Union]] and [[Russia]] from the [[BBC|BBC's]] Moscow bureau was unearthed and digitised by a BBC employee, Phil Goodwin.<ref name="Meduza2023">{{Cite web |title=«Когда империя разваливается, не стой слишком близко» Одна из самых ярких (и болезненных) документальных работ 2022 года — сериал TraumaZone о перестройке. Мы поговорили с его автором Адамом Кертисом |date=5 January 2023 |url=https://meduza.io/feature/2023/01/05/kogda-imperiya-razvalivaetsya-ne-stoy-slishkom-blizko |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=[[Meduza]] |language=ru}}</ref> Adam Curtis appeared to be the only person within the BBC interested in using the footage.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Gray |first=John |date=2022-10-18 |title=Adam Curtis's magic lantern through Russia |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/international-politics/ideas-international-politics/2022/10/adam-curtis-traumazone-review-magic-lantern |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=[[New Statesman]] |language=en-US}}</ref> In a departure from his usual style, Curtis opted not to use voiceovers or [[Non diegetic sound|non-diegetic music]], with the only commentary made via on-screen captions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whyman |first=Tom |date=14 October 2022 |title=Adam Curtis's 'TraumaZone' Needs More Adam Curtis |url=https://artreview.com/adam-curtis-traumazone-needs-more-adam-curtis/ |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=artreview.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Curtis, in a piece in ''[[The Guardian]]'', explained this choice was because the footage was "so strong that I didn’t want to intrude pointlessly, but rather let viewers simply experience what was happening".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Curtis |first=Adam |date=2022-10-12 |title='They are stealing Russia': Adam Curtis on how hyper-capitalism wrecked a nation – and why Liz Truss must take heed |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/oct/12/russia-adam-curtis-extreme-capitalism-liz-truss-traumazone |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref> In an interview with ''[[Meduza]]'', Curtis stated that [[Leo Tolstoy|Leo Tolstoy's]] ''[[War and Peace]]'' served as an inspiration for him as "it appeals to my collage mind".<ref name="Meduza2023" />
 ==Premise==
@@ Line 32: / Line 31: @@
 ==Episodes==
-{{Episode table|caption=Episodes of ''Russia 1985–1999: TraumaZone''| background=8B0000 |overall=10 |title= |country=U.K. |aux1= 8 |aux1T= Duration|episodes=
+{{Episode table |caption=Episodes of ''Russia 1985–1999: TraumaZone'' |background=8B0000 |overall=10 |title= |country=U.K. |aux1=8 |aux1T=Duration |episodes={{Episode list
-{{Episode list
  |EpisodeNumber   = 1
  |Title           = Part One: 1985–1989
  |Aux1            = 60 min
- |ShortSummary    = Perestroika. The dream of saving communism. But no-one believes in anything any longer. The managers loot the system. Soldiers return defeated in the war to liberate [[Afghanistan]].  Includes footage from the [[AvtoVAZ]] factory in Togliatti, the funeral of [[Kim Philby]] and the [[April 9 tragedy]] anti-Soviet demonstrations in Tbilisi.
+ |ShortSummary    = [[Perestroika]] aspires to save communism, but many don't believe in anything anymore. Includes footage from the [[AvtoVAZ]] factory in [[Tolyatti]], the funeral of [[Kim Philby]], Soviet soldiers returning from the invasion and war in Afghanistan and the [[April 9 tragedy]] anti-Soviet demonstrations in Tbilisi.
  |LineColor       = 8B0000
 }}
@@ Line 44: / Line 42: @@
  |Title           = Part Two: 1989–1991
  |Aux1            = 60 min
- |ShortSummary    = There are no potatoes in [[Moscow]]. Things get worse. Then they get much worse as the rational Communist plan runs out of control everywhere. But McDonald’s opens in Moscow.
+ |ShortSummary    =  Moscow and other places suffer shortages of potatoes and other foodstuffs. Among failing attempts by the government to fix this, the first [[McDonald's]] opens in Moscow.
  |LineColor       = 8B0000
 }}
@@ Line 51: / Line 49: @@
  |Title           = Part Three: 1991
  |Aux1            = 60 min
- |ShortSummary    = The empire strikes back. Hardliners attempt a coup. Power slips through their shaking hands. Oligarchs publish a manifesto. Money will replace all ideology. Yeltsin seizes power.
+ |ShortSummary    = [[1991 Soviet coup attempt|Soviet hardliners attempt a coup]], but fail. [[Russian oligarchs]] publish a manifest with ideas, as ideology gives way to money. [[Boris Yeltsin]] becomes the [[President of Russia]].
  |LineColor       = 8B0000
 }}
@@ Line 58: / Line 56: @@
  |Title           = Part Four: 1992–1994
  |Aux1            = 60 min
- |ShortSummary    = Russia goes through the mirror into a chaotic dream world where nothing is stable any more. Dream visions of Russia's imperial past start to rise up. People cannot afford food.
+ |ShortSummary    = Russia is thrust into a state of chaotic dreams, where nothing is stable. Some dream of restoring [[Russian imperialism|former imperial glory]]. Many cannot afford food.
  |LineColor       = 8B0000
 }}
@@ Line 65: / Line 63: @@
  |Title           = Part Five: 1993–1996
  |Aux1            = 60 min
- |ShortSummary    = Russian society implodes. Millions of people fall into the abyss. Many live underground or in forests. The president attacks parliament with tanks saying he is saving democracy.
+ |ShortSummary    = Russian society is divided and millions live below the poverty line. Many live underground or in the woods. Yeltsin [[1993 Russian constitutional crisis|attacks the parliament with tanks]], while arguing that it's done to save democracy.
  |LineColor       = 8B0000
 }}
@@ Line 72: / Line 70: @@
  |Title           = Part Six: 1994–1998
  |Aux1            = 60 min
- |ShortSummary    = Yeltsin believes a war in Chechnya will save him. The oligarchs seize control of practically everything. In the upside down world gangsters become heroes for defending democracy.  Includes footage of the [[Battle of Grozny (1994–1995)|Battle of Grozny]], and the trial of Sergei Shashurin
+ |ShortSummary    = Yeltsin believes a [[First Chechen War|war in Chechnya]] will save him. Meanwhile, the oligarchs seize control over almost everything. Includes footage of the [[Battle of Grozny (1994–1995)|Battle of Grozny]], the electoral campaign of Liberal Democratic Party leader [[Vladimir Zhirinovsky]], and the trial of gangster Sergei Shashurin in [[Kazan]].
  |LineColor       = 8B0000
 }}
@@ Line 79: / Line 77: @@
  |Title           = Part Seven: 1995–1999
  |Aux1            = 60 min
- |ShortSummary    = Suddenly the western bankers leave. Oligarchs take control and search for a new president to be their puppet. They choose Putin. Russians turn against “the curse of democracy".
+ |ShortSummary    = Western banks leave Russia. Oligarchs, after seizing power, look for a new president who would become their puppet, choosing [[Vladimir Putin]]. Russians rebel against what they call "the curse of democracy".
  |LineColor       = 8B0000
 }}
 }}
+==Reception==
-==Critical reception==
-The series received critical acclaim. ''[[The Guardian]]'' gave the series five stars, calling it "ingenious, essential viewing".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jeffries |first=Stuart |date=2022-10-13 |title=Russia 1985–1999: TraumaZone review – ingenious, essential viewing from Adam Curtis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/oct/13/russia-1985-1999-traumazone-review-ingenious-essential-viewing-from-adam-curtis |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> Writing for the ''[[Financial Times]]'', Dan Einav said "''Russia 1985–1999 TraumaZone'' is unmistakably an Adam Curtis documentary. And an exceptional one at that."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Einav |first=Dan |date=2022-10-10 |title=Russia 1985–1999 TraumaZone — Adam Curtis's exceptional collage of conflict and collapse |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/9f1ba82f-33fe-4a24-820e-01ecb209c5d2 |access-date=2022-10-19}}</ref>
+''[[The Guardian]]'' gave the series five stars, calling it "ingenious, essential viewing".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jeffries |first=Stuart |date=2022-10-13 |title=Russia 1985–1999: TraumaZone review – ingenious, essential viewing from Adam Curtis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/oct/13/russia-1985-1999-traumazone-review-ingenious-essential-viewing-from-adam-curtis |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref> Writing for the ''[[Financial Times]]'', Dan Einav said "''Russia 1985–1999 TraumaZone'' is unmistakably an Adam Curtis documentary. And an exceptional one at that."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Einav |first=Dan |date=2022-10-10 |title=Russia 1985–1999 TraumaZone — Adam Curtis's exceptional collage of conflict and collapse |work=[[Financial Times]] |url=https://www.ft.com/content/9f1ba82f-33fe-4a24-820e-01ecb209c5d2 |access-date=2022-10-19}}</ref>
+The series won the award in the best specialist factual category at the [[2023 British Academy Television Awards]].<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2023-05-14 |title=Bafta TV awards 2023: the full list of winners |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/may/14/bafta-tv-awards-2023-the-full-list-of-winners |access-date=2023-05-15 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
 ==References==
 {{reflist}}
-== Further reading ==
-*[[Can't Get You Out of My Head (TV series)]]
-*[[HyperNormalisation]]
-{{refbegin}}
-{{refend}}
 ==External links==
@@ Line 103: / Line 96: @@
 {{Adam Curtis}}
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Russia 1985-1999: TraumaZone}}
+[[Category:2020s British documentary television series]]
 [[Category:2022 British television series debuts]]
 [[Category:2022 British television series endings]]
-[[Category:2020s British documentary television series]]
+[[Category:BAFTA winners (television series)]]
 [[Category:BBC television documentaries]]
-[[Category:English-language television shows]]
+[[Category:Documentary films about Russia]]
+[[Category:Documentary films about the Soviet Union]]
+[[Category:Documentary television series about economics]]
+[[Category:Films about Soviet repression]]
+[[Category:British English-language television shows]]
 [[Category:Films directed by Adam Curtis]]
+[[Category:1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt]]
+[[Category:BBC Film films]]

v t e Documentaries by Adam Curtis
Films	Inside Story: The Road to Terror (1989) £830,000,000 – Nick Leeson and the Fall of the House of Barings (1996) It Felt Like a Kiss (2009) Bitter Lake (2015) HyperNormalisation (2016)
Series	An Ocean Apart (1988) Pandora's Box (1992) The Living Dead (1995) Modern Times: The Way of All Flesh (1997) The Mayfair Set (1999) The Century of the Self (2002) The Power of Nightmares (2004) The Trap (2007) All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace (2011) Can't Get You Out of My Head (2021) Russia 1985–1999: TraumaZone (2022)